Air conditioning system



' May 19, 195 9 c, s, BAUMAN 2,886,955

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 cz waljli mI I aim W IN VEN TOR.

C ar/ 6. Bauman. BY

A ORNE' Y5.

May 19, 1959 c. s. BAUMAN 2,836,955

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1955 a Sheets-Shet 2 IN V EN TOR.Carl .5. Bauman.

ATTORNEYfiQ May 19, 1959 c. s. BAUMAN 2,836,955

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .INVENTOR.Car/ 5. Bauman.

4 TTORNEYS.

United States Patent AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Carl S. Bauman, New York,N.Y., assignor to Air Conditioning, Incorporated, a corporation ofDelaware Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,423 3 Claims. (Cl.62--259) This invention relates to air conditioning systems, and moreparticularly, to a prefabricated air conditioning system for economicalinstallation on a building for circulating air in areas of a space to becooled or heated.

In large buildings of one-story construction, such as store buildingshaving large areas substantially unobstructed by partitions or wallsextending substantially from the floor to the ceiling, it isconventional practice to install the cooling and heating equipment in aroom or basement and provide extensive duct systems to deliverconditioning air throughout the space and other ducts for returning airto the cooling or heating equipment. Such large cooling equipmentrequires cooling towers for water used to cool the compressor andcondensers which together with the extensive duct system cause theinstallations to be very expensive and often many times the cost of: thenecessary refrigeration and/or heating equipment.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a prefabricated airconditioning system which eliminates the extensive ducts normally used;to provide such an air conditioning system adapted to be mounted on aroof of a building and one or more arranged for each to cool or heat airin a certain portion of the room space under said roof; to provide suchan air conditioning system with a housing or casing in the room space tobe conditioned and forming supply and return air chambers havingcommunication through the ceiling or roof to the air conditioningequipment; to provide such an air conditioning system with therefrigeration system and air circulating means so located that a minimumof operating noise is projected into the room being conditioned; toprovide an outside permamently mounted air conditioning system for yeararound operation; and to provide an air conditioning system which isadapted to be prefabricated, that is economical to manufacture andinstall wherein each will eificiently condition air in its respectiveroom area.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through the air conditioning systemarranged on the roof of a building.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the air conditioningsystem on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the air conditioningsystem on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the air supply and returnchambers on the line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the air conditioning systemon the line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the air conditioning systemon the line 66, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section through the flashing around the ductswhich extend through the roof of the building.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

1 designates the roof of a building preferably of a single story typewhich may be of any suitable structure with a ceiling 2 supported onroof beams 3 with suitable roofing material 4 supported by the beams toprovide a substantially fiat roof.

2,886,955 Patented May 19, 1959 5 designates an air conditioning system.one or more of which are supported on the roof structure of thebuilding. Each system 5 includes a housing 6 arranged on the exterior ofthe roof structure and a casing 7 supported on the ceiling 2 inside aroom space 8 wherein the air is to be conditioned. The housing 6preferably includes a frame 9 of connected structural members to whichis suitably attached a bottom Wall 10, side walls 11 and 12, end walls13 and 14, and a top wall 15. The housing is divided into twocompartments by a partition 16 suitably supported therein. In theillustrated structure, the partition 16 is horizontal and divides thehousing into a high side compartment 17 and a low side compartment 18.

A motor compressor unit 19 is arranged in the low side compartment 18preferably adjacent the end wall 13. The motor compressor unit isenergized by a suitable power supply (not shown) and operates tocompress a suitable refrigerant when energized. The compressedrefrigerant is conveyed through suitable conduits to condensers 20 and21 which are preferably arranged in the housing 6 and positioned acrossopenings 22 and 23 respectively in the side walls 11 and 12 respectivelywhereby air may drawn through the openings 22 and 23 through or over thecondensers'to cool and condense the refrigerant therein.

Doors 24 and 25 are arranged on the exterior of the housing 6 and havetheir upper edges connected to hinge members 26 carried by the housingwhereby the doors may be swung downwardly to close the openings 22 and23 to prevent air flow therethrough when operation of the compressor isnot desirable, for example, in the winter time. In the summer time whenit is usually desirable to cool air supplied to the room space 8, thedoors 24 and 25 are swung upwardly to open the openings 22 and 23 forair flow through the condensers. Also, when the doors 24 and 25 areswung upwardly sufiiciently for suitable air flow through thecondensers, said doors act as awnings providing the condensers withsolar protection.

A suitable motor driven blower 27 is mounted in the compartment 18adjacent the end wall 14 and substantially centrally between thecondensers 20 and 21. The blower includes a casing 28 having inletopenings 29 and an outlet connection 30 arranged in registering relationwith an opening 31 in the end wall 14. A hood 32 is preferably mountedon the exterior of the wall 14 to deflect the air discharge downwardlywhereby the hood forms a rain guard for the opening in the outletconnection of the blower. r

When the motor compressor 19 is operating, the blower 27 is alsooperated to draw air through the condensers 20 and 21 into thecompartment 18 through the inlet openings 29 to the blower casing 28 andthe air discharged through the outlet connection 30 to the exterior ofthe housing 6 thereby providing an air circulation for cooling of thecondensers whereby the refrigerant flowing therethrough is cooled andcondensed, after which it is metered into an evaporator coil 33 arrangedin the high side compartment 17 where the refrigerant is heated andvaporized and then returned to the intake of the motor compressor unit19 in a substantially conventional refrigerant circuit for recompressionby the motor compressor unit 19 and recirculation through therefrigerat1on system.

A vertical partition 34 divides the high side compartment 17, saidpartition extending from the side wall 11 to the side Wall 12 and fromthe partition 16 to the top Wall 15 and is preferably substantiallymidway between the end walls 13 and 14. The partition 34 has an opening35 therein with a filter 36 covering the opening on the side of thepartition adjacent the end wall 13 and the evaporator 33 covering theopening 35 on the side of the partition adjacent the end wall 14 whichis the blower side of the high side compartment.

A motor driven blower 37 is arranged in the blower portion of thecompartment 17 and includes a casing 38 having inlet openings 39 and anoutlet connection 40 which is connected to a plenum chamber 41 adjacentthe end wall 14 and preferably centrally located relative to the sidewalls 11 and 12.

The plenum chamber 41 has lateral extensions 42 communicating withspaced air supply ducts 43 which extend through openings 44 in thepartition 16 downwardly through the low side compartment on oppositesides of the blower 27 through an opening 45 in the bottom 10 and hasextensions 46 of suitable length to extend through the roof structure ofthe building whereby the lower end of the extension 46 may be connectedwith the supply chamber in the casing 7 supported under the ceiling ofthe room space to be conditioned.

The casing 7 is preferably arranged substantially under the housing 6.It has a top wall 47, bottom wall 48, side walls 49, and end walls whichare suitably connected together to form a chamber 51 that issubstantially square in horizontal cross section. Each of the side walls49 and end walls 56 have openings 52 covered with a grille or register53 having suitable baflles or deflectors for directing the air outwardlyand downwardly away from the casing 7. The casing includes inner walls54 extending from the bottom wall 48 to the top wall 47 to define areturn air chamber 55 which is preferably substantially square inhorizontal cross section with the walls thereof substantially equallyspaced from the side and end walls of the casing 7. The bottom wall 48has an opening 56 that is covered by a grille or register 57 for entryof air from the room space 8 to the return air chamber 55. Each of thewalls of the casing are preferably covered or lined with acousticalmaterial to eliminate projection of noise into the room space 8.

The return air chamber has communication with a return air duct 58 thatis connected to the top wall 47,

extends through the roof structure, through an opening 59 in the bottomwall lid of the housing 6 and upwardly in the low side compartment 18,preferably substantially centrally of the side walls and between themotor compressor 19 and blower 27. The upper portion of the return duct58 in the low side compartment 18 extends substantially to the end wall13 and adjacent said end wall has lateral branches 60 that extend to theside walls 11 and 12 and then upwardly through the partition 16 with theupper portions communicating with a plenum or mixing chamber 61 thatextends transversely of the high side compartment approximately midwaythe height thereof. The end wall 13 has an opening 62 communicating withthe plenum chamber 61 and preferably has louvers 63 arranged over theopening to provide weather protection thereto.

A damper 64 is arranged on the inside of the plenum chamber 61 forselective movement across the opening 62 to adjust the effective openingand the entry of outside air into the plenum chamber 61 for mixing withthe return air entering same. A suitable heater 65 is arranged in thehigh side compartment 17 between the plenum chamber and the filter 36and may be gas or oil fired and suitably controlled by thermostat as inconventional practice. In the form illustrated, the heater 65 includes agas burner 66 having a supply pipe 67 which extends through the end wall13. Also, a louvered opening 68 is arranged in said end wall for supplyof combustion air therethrough and through the space between the upperend of the return air duct 58 and the bottom of the plenum chamber 61.The products of combustion from the burner 66 pass through tubes 69 to aflue connection 70.

The tubes 69 are spaced and connect with upper and lower walls '71 and72 whereby air from the plenum chamber 61 is drawn through the heatexchanger around the tubes 69 and then through the filters '36 andevaporator 33 to the blower 37. With this arrangement, air supplied tothe room space 8 may be heated with the heating member 65 or cooled byrefrigerant in the evaporator 33 as is desired.

In installing an air conditioning system constructed as described, alarge room space 8 to be conditioned is divided into substantiallysquare or geometric shaped areas of floor space corresponding to theshape of the casing '7 wherein the volume in the respective room spaceareas is slightly below the heating or cooling capacity of theindividual systems. Then an area marked on the ceiling substantiallycentrally relative to the respective floor space areas and openings 45and 59 cut through the roof structure for the air supply and return airducts. Then flashing '73 of angular cross section is applied on the roofwith each having a flange 74 extending outwardly from the respectiveopening and overlying the roof material and the flange 75 upstandingtherefrom and defining an opening through which the respective duct maybe sleeved. The ducts 42 and 58 are then provided with a flashing 76having the upper portion 77 suitably secured to the respective duct andthe flashing extending outwardly and then downwardly therefrom to engageover the exterior of the flashing flange 75. The housing 6 with the airconditioning equipment therein is then moved into position with theducts 43 and 53 in alignment with the openings through the roof and isthen lowered whereby said ducts extend through said openings and theflashing engaged to form a seal therearound. The housing 6 is thensuitably secured to the roof structure. The casing 7 is then suitablymounted on the ceiling and supported from the roof structure, and alsoconnected to the ducts 43 and 58 whereby the supply duct communicateswith the supply chamber 51 and the return air duct communicates with thereturn chamber 55. Then a fuel supply is connected to the heating device65, electric current connected to the motors, and suitable controlsarranged in the room space 8 and connected to the refrigeration systemand heating system for selective controlling thereof.

In cooling the room space, the doors 24 and 25 are swung upwardly andoutwardly and secured for entry of air through the condensers 20 and 21.Then upon operation of the motor compressor unit and the blowers, thecompressed refrigerant flows through the condensers 20 and 21, then tothe evaporator 33, air being drawn by the blower 2'7 through thecondensers 20 and 21 and discharged through the outlet connectionthereof to cool the condensers. The blower 37 operates to draw airthrough the opening 57, return chamber 55, return air duct 53, andextension 60 to the plenum chamber 61 where the air is mixed withoutside air entering the opening 62 under control of the damper 64. Theair passes through the heat exchanger 69, filter 36, evaporator 33, intothe blower 37 and is then discharged outwardly and downwardly throughthe grille covered openings 52 for return through the return air duct,thereby cooling the air in the respective space of the room to beconditioned. When it is desired to heat the room space, the doors 24 and25 are swung downwardly to close the openings 22 and 23. The motorcompressor 19 and blower 27 are not operated. Fuel is then supplied tothe heater 65 and the blower 37 operated to draw air through the returnduct, plenum chamher 611, through the heat exchanger and filter 36,evaporator 33, to the blower which then discharges the heated airthrough the duct 43 to the supply chamber 51 for delivery to the room,each air conditioning system operating to condition the portion of theair in the large space for which it is designed to accommodate, theblower 37 and the ducts and openings being such that the air velocitythrough the openings 52 will move the air outwardly from the casing 7sufiiciently to circulate the air through the area to be conditioned.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An airconditioning system comprising, a housing having means for securing itto a roof structure of a room space to be conditioned, said housinghaving top, bottom, side and end walls, a partition in the housingdividing it into two compartments, one of said compartments havingopenings in the side wall portions thereof, refrigerant condensersdisposed in said one compartment in overlying relation to said sideopenings, cover means movably mounted on the housing to cover said sideopenings and movable to open said openings, said cover means in openposition providing a protector eave shading said condensers, aircirculating means in said one compartment for moving air through saidside openings and over the condensers and discharging said air outsideof the housing remotely of said side openings, -a refrigerant compressorin said one compartment, a refrigerant evaporator in said othercompartment, means connecting the refrigerant compressor and refrigerantcondensers and refrigerant evaporator to complete a refrigerationcircuit therethrough, a casing having top, bottom, side and end wallswith means for securing it to the ceiling of a room space to beconditioned substantially under the housing with the top wall of saidcasing adjacent the ceiling, partitions in said casing spaced from theside and end walls thereof forming a return air chamber substantiallycentrally of the casing and an air supply chamber surrounding the returnair chamber, said casing having a central opening in the bottom thereofcommunicating the room space to be conditioned with the return airchamber, said casing having openings in the sides and ends thereofcommunicating the air supply chamber with the room space to beconditioned, an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway communicatingwith the portions of said other compartment on opposite sides of theevaporator, means extending through the roof structure communicating thereturn air chamher and air supply chamber with the inlet passageway andoutlet passageway respectively, a damper in the housing adapted to openand close an opening provided in said housing between the inletpassageway and the outside atmosphere, and a blower means forcirculating air over said evaporator by way of the inlet and outletpassageways and delivering said air through the air supply chamber tothe room space to be conditioned.

2. An air conditioning system comprising, a housing having means forsecuring it to a roof structure of a room space to be conditioned, saidhousing having top, bottom, side and end walls, a partition in thehousing dividing it into two compartments, one of said compartmentshaving openings in the side wall portions thereof, refrigerantcondensers disposed in said one compartment in overlying relation tosaid side openings, cover members on the exterior of the housing tocover the side openings to said one compartment, means hingedlyconnecting the upper portions of said cover members to the housing abovesaid side openings whereby said cover members may be swung outwardly andupwardly to open the side openings in the side walls and yet shade thecondensers, air circulating means in said one compartment for moving airthrough said side openings and over the condensers and discharging saidair outside of the housing remotely of said side openings, a refrigerantcompressor in said one compartment, a refrigerant evaporator in saidother compartment, means connecting the refrigerant compressor andrefrigerant condensers and refrigerant evaporator to complete arefrigeration circuit therethrough, a casing having top, bottom, sideand end walls with means for securing it to the ceiling of a room spaceto be conditioned substantially under the housing with the top wall ofsaid casing adjacent the ceiling, means in said casing and forming areturn air chamber and an air supply chamber therein, said casing havingopening therein communicating the room space to be conditioned with thereturn air chamber and the air supply chamber, an inlet passageway andan outlet passageway communicating with the portions of said othercompart ment on opposite sides of the evaporator, means extendingthrough the roof structure communicating the return air chamber and airsupply chamber with the inlet passageway and outlet passagewayrespectively, a damper in the housing adapted to open and close anopening provided in said housing between the inlet passageway and theoutside atmosphere, and a blower means for circulating air over saidevaporator by way of the inlet and outlet passageways and deliveringsaid air through the air supply chamber to the room space to beconditioned.

3. An air conditioning system comprising, a housing having means forsecuring it to a roof structure of a room space to be conditioned, saidhousing having top, bottom, side and end walls, a partition in thehousing dividing it into two compartments, one of said compartmentshaving openings in the side wall portions thereof, retfrigerantcondensers disposed in said one compartment in overlying relation tosaid side openings, cover panel members on the exterior of the housingto cover the side openings to said one compartment, means hingedlyconnecting the upper portions of said cover panel members to the housingabove said side openings whereby said cover panel members may be swungoutwardly and upwardly to open the openings in the side walls, aircirculating means in said one compartment for moving air through saidside openings and over the condensers and discharging said air outsideof the housing remotely of said side openings, a refrigerant compressorin said one compartment, a refrigerant evaporator in said othercompartment, means connecting the refrigerant compressor and refrigerantcondensers and refrigerant evaporator to complete a refrigerationcircuit therethrough, a casing having top, bottom, side and end wallswith means for securing it to the ceiling of a room space to beconditioned substantially under the housing with the top wall of saidcasing adjacent the ceiling, partitions in said casing spaced from theside and end walls thereof forming a return air chamber substantiallycentrally of the casing and an air supply chamber surrounding the return air chamber, said casing having a central opening in the bottomthereof communicating the room space to be conditioned with the returnair chamber, said casing having openings in the sides and ends thereofcommunicating the air supply chamber with the room space to beconditioned, an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway communicatingwith the portions of said other compartment on opposite sides of theevaporator, means extending through the roof structure communicating thereturn air chamber and air supply chamber with the inlet passageway andoutlet passageway respectively, a damper in the housing adapted to openand close an opening provided in said housing between the inletpassageway and the outside atmosphere, and a blower means forcirculating air over said evaporator by way of the inlet and outletpasageways and delivering said air through the air supply chamber to theroom space to be conditioned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,318,393 Honerkamp et a1 May 4, 1943 2,319,062 Holmes May 11, 19432,519,496 Norman Aug. 22, 1950 2,644,321 Borgerd July 7, 1953 2,682,757Borgerd July 6, 1954 2,779,572 Holman Jan. 29, 1957

